Where Does Bills' O-Line Rank for Week 3 vs. Commanders?

The Buffalo Bills may be reaping the benefits of an upgraded offensive line, but the Washington Commanders will be another tough test on Sunday.

The Buffalo Bills entered the offseason with the hopes of securing a better offensive line for superstar quarterback Josh Allen. At least on paper, they succeeded.

They signed former Dallas Cowboys guard Connor McGovern to a three-year, $22.35 million contract in free agency and drafted Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence in the second round. So far, both have lived up to expectations, slotting in at left and right guard, respectively.

Through two weeks, a 22-16 loss to the New York Jets and a 38-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Bills have gotten favorable returns from their pass protection.

In fact, The Athletic's Ben Baldwin’s pass protection ratings has Buffalo fifth in all of football, sandwiched between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.

Pass protection composite ratings

For once the Dolphins haven't had awful pass protection!

(yes still kind of all over the place, maybe it'll stabilize after more games?) pic.twitter.com/SnPtrDBoNM

— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) September 20, 2023

Torrence spoke after the win about helping to hold up the offensive line's end of the bargain against Raiders’ star edge rusher Maxx Crosby.

“It was just something we practiced all week,” Torrence said. “And seeing [right tackle Spencer Brown] go out there and handle his business was something that we expected and knew he could do. And just going out there and doing it just made it feel like the work we put in … it kind of paid off.”

Torrence and Brown eliminated the threat Crosby posed. Now, they face a tougher threat on Sunday: the Washington Commanders.

Winning the Week 3 matchup in Landover, MD would put Buffalo above .500 for the first time this season. The offensive line will be tasked with mitigating one of the league’s best defensive lines.

Edge rusher Chase Young may have the most name recognition of any Commanders defender, but fellow edge Montez Sweat and defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are all incredible in their own right. Sweat leads the unit with four sacks, Young has two, and each tackle has one.

Washington can take over games with its imposing defensive front, as it did in its 35-33 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 2. The Bills’ pass protection has held up well so far, but Week 3 will be yet another test against elite talent.

They won’t get the benefit of an inactive Carl Lawson or a Raiders’ supporting cast that lacks premier talent surrounding Crosby. Each lineman will have his hands full on Sunday. It’s up to them to keep Allen upright and Buffalo in the win column.